Entergy Louisiana submits proposal to develop 225 MW of solar power
Entergy Louisiana is seeking to develop 225 megawatts of new solar power in its service territory.
This week, the company filed a request with the Louisiana Public Service Commission to approve the purchase, construction, and operation of two facilities for solar energy. One is in Iberville Parish for approximately 175 megawatts, and the other is in Ouachita Parish for roughly 49 megawatts.
“This is another step toward not only reaching our own sustainability goals but also toward helping our customers reach their sustainability goals,” Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO, said. “The desire for clean power is increasing and, at Entergy, we intend to meet that desire in a way that balances our ability to continue providing reliable and affordable power. We’re excited about the potential addition of nearly 225 megawatts and look forward to further expanding our portfolio of renewables as demanded by our stakeholders.”
As part of the proposal, the company would enter a 20-year purchase power agreement with Coastal Prairie Solar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, for energy produced by the Iberville Parish facility.
Construction on the facilities would begin in spring 2024 if the commission approves the request. The Iberville facility would be fully operational in late 2025, while the Sterlington Solar Facility in Ouachita Parish would be operational in early 2026.
The proposal also seeks approval to include the new solar resources within the recently approved green tariff Geaux Green Option, or Rider GGO. This is a voluntary program that allows customers the opportunity to subscribe to renewable energy resources.
Entergy Louisiana currently has approximately 280 megawatts of renewable resources, including the Capital Region Solar facility. Further, the commission recently approved 475 megawatts of solar power for the company. In addition, Entergy Louisiana has several thousand megawatts of renewable capacity in various stages of planning and procurement that will be brought to the commission for approval in the near future.
“We continue to work hand-in-hand with our local communities and elected officials across the state,” May said. “I want to thank those who have assisted us in bringing these sites to fruition, especially at the parish level, and look forward to what’s on the horizon for our state.”
